Windyham

Yes, because it was very windy today.  Apparently the weather was the talk of Wyndham - a maximum of 24 degrees forecast and overcast, windy and likely to rain.   Larry and Jenny must be in town!

We woke later than usual though as it was just so quiet all around us and even Deb and Paul were having a lie in so absolutely no car doors, car noise or people noise anywhere near us.  Had a lesiurely breakfast and then decided to head out to some of the sights around Wyndham.  At PJ's recommendation, we decided to get to Parry Creek around lunchtime so we first headed towards Moochalabra Dam.  Larry, knowing the local ways, only stayed on the actual road for a few hundred metres before veering off across the salt plains for a short cut and a much smoother ride.   It was an interesting experience to be on an unofficial pathway across the vast open spaces but judging by the number of tracks I was came to think that no one but tourists heading out to Diggers Rest Station actually use the proper road (read corrugated dirt track) at all - the salt plains are certainly a smoother ride!

Got back to the proper road in time for the turn off to the dam.  Headed first to some nearby aboriginal rock art but there were already two car loads of middle aged women there who were part of an organised "Kimberley Creative Tours' tour.  They came back down the rocky cliff face incredibly slowly but greatly inspired apparently so toddled back to their cars, grabbed their artist easels and headed off to a nearby creek, complete with water lillies, to "create".  I'm ashamed to say I was not similarly inspired by the blobs on the cliff face (some of which looked suspiciously like they had been 'touched up' so we were back in the car and off to the dam whilst they were still setting up their stools and brushes.

Moochalabra dam has changed a bit since Larry lived here - the actual wall has been almost doubled in height to increase capacity but also, to Larry's disgust, surrounded by a fence and lots of "keep out', this is a prohibited area by order of Water Corporation" type signs whereas in the good old days you were free to wander as you please and even collect terrapins that had got trapped in the gratings at the top of the dam wall.  Larry showed his rebellious side by going round the fence and down to the dam wall to take photos whilst Ben and I stayed virtuously on the correct side of the fence and took the necessary incriminating evidence.  You never know when it might come in handy!

Back in the car and drove along the King River stopping occasionally when we thought we may have seen a crocodile on the bank but didn't in the end.  Stopped at the prison boab tree for photos.  Unlike the one just out of Derby this one wasn't fenced and was covered in graffiti so we didn't treat it with the same level of respect either and happily posed on the hole in the trunk.

Back across the salt plains and a bit further down the road to the Parry Creek reserve.  PJ had told us that the old caravan park was now a resort with a pretty good cafe so we headed straight there.  It was still just a little before noon and the place was deserted but the ladies in the cafe welcomed us with open arms and scurried off to turn on the deep fryer and boil some water.  We were happy to sit in the nice cafe in a nice breeze but screened by the flywire from the wind outside watching the lizards scurry up the flywire and listening to the endless squawk of the white corellas in the nearby trees.  Even happier when our meals came - Larry had a Barra burger which he loved and Ben and I had fish and chips (the fish being barramundi of course) which was also very tasty.  Feeling very sated, we hopped back in the car and went off to explore Parry Creek reserve including a stop at the Parry Creek floodway (home of a famous lost thong incident), then to the old telegraph station (built in 1914 but only there a few years because there was too much static - why didn't they check that before going to all the effort of building a station out in the middle of nowhere?!) and then on to a bird watching station.  There was a hide with lots of elderly people sitting quietly with iPads filming birds.  We were careful to whisper and tiptoe but then they all started talking quite loudly and the birds (and crocodiles on the far bank) really didn't seem to care anyway.

Back into town to get some fuel and to visit two of the other businesses still in operation:  a gift store and the newsagent where I supported the local economy by purchasing an "I  survived the Gibb River Road' stubby holder and Larry a Lotto ticket.  We'll know we have pretty short odds of it being us if the winning ticket was sold in Wyndham!  Back home and did some more blog updating etc before wandering down to Deb and Paul's about 4.30pm.  Another couple who remember Larry from the good old days, Gilbert and Shelley, arrived for some more drinking and reminiscing before having to head off to bingo.  Deb had cooked up a scrumptious lasagne for dinner and that, combined with a big salad and fresh bread rolls, made a truly memorable meal.  We progressive dinnered from the table to the firepit for dessert of toasted marshmallows and more wine and more reminiscing but the chat was more general tonight so Ben and Jenny were able to join in a bit more.  Maggie the terrier decided Ben's lap was pretty comfy and settled in for a long nap.  I think Ben is seriously thinking about kidnapping her tomorrow!